29 December 1939

ROMANIA: Ion Duca, leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister of Romania since November 1933, is assassinated by three members of the Iron Guard, a fascist organization led by Corneliu Codreanu. The new government, under George Tartarescu, proclaims martial law and arrests the leadership of the Iron Guard.

JAPAN: The Government formally renounces their participation in the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the London Naval Treaty of 1930. The 1922 treaty established the maximum tonnage of capital ships that could be built by the five signatories, the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan and the U.S. The 1930 treaty aimed to regulate submarine warfare and limited military shipbuilding. The Japanese will no longer have to limit their fleet to the ratios prescribed by these agreements and can begin a massive arms building program.

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Bomber Command: Daylight anti-shipping sweep over the North Sea. 77 Sqn. Two aircraft. 102 Sqn. Two aircraft. No enemy shipping sighted.

The Air Ministry issues a design requirement for a light bomber with a range of 1,500 miles while carrying a bomb load of 1,000 pounds. This requirement will give rise to the de-Havilland Mosquito.

GERMANY: German Police issue a warrant for the arrest of the tycoon Fritz Thyssen, who once funded but now opposes the Nazis. He is believed to be in Portugal.

TURKEY: The estimated death toll, from the recent earthquake, rises to 25,000 as earth tremors continue.

EGYPT: U.S. steamship SS President Adams is detained at Port Said by British authorities. The cargo suspected of being contraband is discharged at Alexandria.

U.S.A.: Brigadier General George V Strong, Chief of War Plans, reports to Chief of Staff that Army members on the Joint Army-Navy Board wished to withdraw all defense forces from the Asiatic periphery. (Marc Small)

The prototype Consolidated (Model 32) XB-24 (USAAC serial number 39-680) makes its maiden flight of 17-minutes at Lindbergh Field, San Diego, California. A total of 18,313 of these aircraft are built by Consolidated, Douglas, Ford and North American during the war, 18,037 B-24s (including USN PB4Ys) and 282 C-87 transports (including USN RYs). (Ron Babuka)

Destroyer HMS Cottesmore commissioned.

Destroyer HMS Derwent laid down.

ÉIRE: Two Gloster Gladiators of the Irish Air Force fail to intercept a Luftwaffe Ju-88 that penetrates Irish airspace from Waterford over to Dublin. AA fire also fails to hit the intruder.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: In the Adriatic Sea, the Greek submarine RHS Proteus (Y 3) torpedoes and sinks the 11,452 ton Italian troop transport SS Sardegna about 51 nautical miles (95 kilometres) east of Brindisi, Italy, in position 40.31N, 19.02E. RHS Proteus is rammed and sunk immediately after this attack by the Italian torpedo boat R.N. Antares.

U.S.A.:
Washington: An AP dispatch from states:
President Roosevelt was reported authoritatively today to have drafted a $17 billion budget for the fiscal year 1942, including $10 billion for the armament program.

In a "fireside chat" on radio, Roosevelt called for the US to become "the arsenal of democracy." The President made "the direct statement to the American people that there is far less chance of the US getting into war if we do all we can now to support the nations defending themselves against attack by the Axis than if we acquiesce in their defeat."

U.S.S.R.: The seaport town of Feodosia on the eastern Crimea is the scene of new Soviet landings with troops of the 51st and 44th Armies. They are opposed by Romanian units, which all but disappear at first contact.

These forces along with those of the 26th at Kerch will pose a serious threat to the German 11th Army. The Germans will halt their advance on Sevastopol to eliminate this threat, as Sponeck moves his 46th Infanterie Division back to a narrow line on the peninsula (the Parpach Line) to hold the Soviets. (Pat McTaggart)

Feodosia was captured by the German 46th and 170th Infantry Divisions on 3 November. As the attack on Sevastopol was about to take place, most of the German forces were withdrawn to concentrate on the forthcoming battle.

Left behind in the city were a small detachment of troops and all the wounded soldiers convalescing in the city's hospitals. On 18 January 1942, after their failure to capture Sevastopol, the Germans are able to return and recapture Feodosia. They find that most of the German military personnel had been murdered. Wounded soldiers had been thrown out of the windows of the hospital to make room for Russian wounded.

On the beach, piles of bodies are found where they were thrown from a wall several meters high after being beaten and mutilated, their bodies left in the surf so that the sea water froze and covered them with a sheet of ice. There are about 12 survivors who had hidden in cellars when the Russian troops arrived. Their testimony before a German court of inquiry confirmed that some 160 wounded soldiers are liquidated this way. The Soviets defeat a German relief army at Kotelnikovo, isolating the Axis forces in Stalingrad. In the eastern Crimea, German troops of Army Group B evacuate Kerch and Theodosia.

FINLAND: Major Max von Hellens, Intelligence Officer of the Finnish 11th Division meets with US Military Attaché Colonel Georges Huthsteiner. Von Hellens informs the American that the German 163rd Infantry Division is on the eastern shore of Lake Ladoga, that the German division had suffered losses and is demoralised and asking for help from the Finnish 11th Division.

CHINA: The establishment of the China Theatre under supreme command of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, who is to be assisted by an Allied staff, is announced. The theatre is to include portions of Thailand and French Indochina in friendly hands.

EAST INDIES: The Indian detachment from Kuching, Sarawak, arrives at Sanggau, Dutch Borneo, and is placed under Dutch command.

MALAYA: On the Indian 11th Division front, the Indian 12th Brigade holds firmly against a strong Japanese attack but, since its position is becoming untenable, falls back through Kampar to Bidor, where it is held in reserve.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: In northern Luzon, the 91st Division [Philippine Army (PA)] holds Cabanatuan against a strong enemy thrust, but the Japanese succeed in crossing the Pampanga River near there. Another Japanese force, heading for Tarlac in the 21st Division (PA) sector, reaches a position just north of Tarlac. All elements of the South Luzon Force withdraw quickly toward Bataan. Japanese "Betty" bombers (Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers) and "Nell" bombers (Mitsubishi G3M, Navy Type 96 Attack Bombers) from Formosa, attack Corregidor for the first time. Although wooden structures suffer heavily, little damage is done to military installations. Antiaircraft fire from forts guarding Manila Bay destroy a number of bombers. The 4th Marine Regiment takes responsibility for beach defence. During the bombings, submarine tender USS Canopus (AS-9) is damaged in Mariveles Harbour, river gunboat USS Mindanao (PR-8) is damaged by near-misses off Corregidor.

AUSTRALIA: Major General Lewis H Brereton, Commanding General Far East Air Force, arrives at his new headquarters at Darwin, Northern Territory.

U.S.A.: USAAF 77th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) reaches Elmendorf Field, Territory of Alaska.

All German, Italian and Japanese aliens in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington and are ordered to surrender contraband.

FRANCE: During the day, RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos bomb three marshalling yards (M/Ys): two each bomb the M/Y at Amiens and Tergnier and one hits the M/Y at Laon.

During the night of 29/30 December, 14 RAF Bomber Command Lancasters lay mines in the River Gironde.

GERMANY: During the night of 29/30 December, RAF Bomber Command dispatches three Oboe Mosquitos to attack steel plants at Essen and Meiderich in 10/10th cloud conditions. Two bomb Meiderich and one bombs Essen; in the latter case, the bombs fall 500 meters (547 yards) east of the Krupps factory. .

U.S.S.R.: Kotelnikovo, south-west of Stalingrad, falls to the Soviets after fierce fighting.

Italian GENERAL ENRICO PEZZI, commander of the Italian air forces on the Russian front dies. Pezzi personally flew along on a resupply flight into a small pocket of Italian and German soldiers holding out at Chertkovo in the wake of the Soviet offensive which shattered and routed the Italian 8th Army along the Don. He made it in, but his SM81 transport vanished during the return flight, presumed shot down by the Soviets. (Michael F. Yaklich)

LIBYA: Advance elements of the British 8th Army (armoured cars of the 4th Light Armoured Brigade) halts in front of the Buerat position of the Afrika Korps. Buerat and Bu Ngern are found to be free of Germans. A lull follows as the British prepare for attack.

BURMA: Twelve USAAF Tenth Air Force B-24 Liberators attack shipping in the vicinity of Rangoon.

PACIFIC OCEAN: High speed minesweeper (ex-destroyer) USS Wasmuth was escorting a convoy through a heavy Alaskan storm when two depth charges were wrenched from their tracks by the pounding sea, fell over the side, and exploded beneath the ship's fantail. The blasts carried away part of the ship's stern and the ship began to founder; in the gale, the pumps could not make headway against the inexorably rising water below. Despite the heavy sea, the oiler USS Ramapo came alongside the crippled and foundering Wasmuth in a display of seamanship and daring. For three and one-half hours, the tanker remained with the sinking high-speed minesweeper, battling the waves while proceeding with the ticklish business of transferring the latter's officers and men (134) and two passengers. After completing that heroic rescue, Ramapo pulled away; Wasmuth eventually sank early on 29 December.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO: USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators carry out single-bomber attacks on the airfield at Gasmata on the south coast of New Britain Island. .

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: A USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-24 Liberator flies a negative reconnaissance over Rat and Amchitka Islands. A scheduled attack on Japanese-held Kiska Island and the reconnaissance mission over Amchitka Island are cancelled by bad weather.

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Clayoquot began refit Halifax, Nova Scotia. Later moved to Liverpool and Pictou, Nova Scotia.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 2356, SS Ingerfem was hit by one torpedo from U-631 amidships. The ship had been in the convoy ONS-156, but had engine problems and lost the convoy after three days. The most crewmembers abandoned ship in two lifeboats, while the master, third mate and a gunner were seen struggling with a third lifeboat midships, but before it was launched the ship broke in two and sank ten minutes after the hit. One of the lifeboats, carrying 33 men, was later lost. The other with eight men in it, also had problems in the bad weather, it was taking water and finally capsized three days later. All men get into it again, but the first mate and two crewmen died, standing upright in the boat, that same day. After one week, the boat had taken too much water and turned over again. The remaining men managed to straighten it out, but that night four of them died, leaving the gunner Ole Næss (age 22) alone in the boat. He "buried" the dead in the sea, but it had all been too much for him and he jumped overboard, but a wave immediately washed him on board again. Then he drank large amounts of seawater in an attempt to end his life, but that did not succeed either. On 11 January, the lifeboat was spotted about 500 miles west of Scotland by the American steam merchant Staghound. The sole survivor was then unconscious and could not be straightened out so he was lifted in sitting position onto the vessel, where the doctor on board gave him the best care possible, until he could be taken to the hospital in Ards District near Belfast two days later, suffering from severe shock and salt water sores. He was nursed back to health again, though his legs for a long time were threatened by gangrene, but he was spared from amputation.

Battle for Convoy ON-154 continued unabated. U-123 sank SS Baron Cochrane and damaged Empire Shackleton; U-336 sank SS President Francqui; U-435 sank SS Empire Shackleton and Norse King; U-591 sank SS Zarian; U-628 sank SS Lynton Grange; U-662 sank SS Ville de Rouen.

UNITED KINGDOM: Admiral Ramsay RN is named as Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief, and Leigh-Mallory RAF, is confirmed in his appointment. (Doug Tidy)

That fine and frank book, Target Germany, which tells of the deeds of the 8th United States Army Air Force in its daylight bombing operations, pay tribute to the desperate courage of the German pilots, who come rushing in nose on through curtains of lead, closing to point-blank range, to try and tear up the Fortress formations.

Whether it is true that the Scharnhorst went down with colours flying I do not know; but it is in the manner of the German fighting man, and only those who have never met him in combat would think otherwise.

NETHERLANDS: Eleven RAF Bomber Command Stirlings lay mines, seven in the Frisian Islands and four off Texel Island.

FRANCE: During the night of 29/30 December, RAF Bomber Command dispatches Mosquitos to bomb suspected V-1 launching sites: three each aircraft bomb sites at Bristillerie and La Glacerie; seven Stirlings lay mines off Bay of Biscay ports, four off La Pallice and three off Gironde and four aircraft drop leaflets over Paris.

GERMANY: Berlin: RAF aircraft killed 182 civilians in a bombing raid last night, for the loss of 81 crewmen.

During the night of 29/30 December, RAF Bomber Command sends 712 aircraft, 457 Lancasters, 252 Halifaxes and three Mosquitos, to bomb Berlin; 656 aircraft bomb the target. A long approach route from the south, passing south of the Ruhr and then within 20 miles (32 kilometres) of Leipzig, together with Mosquito diversions at Düsseldorf, Leipzig and Magdeburg, cause the German controllers great difficulties and there are few fighters over Berlin. Bad weather on the outward route also keep down the number of German fighters finding the bomber stream. Twenty aircraft, 11 Lancasters and nine Halifaxes, are lost, 2.8 per cent of the force. Berlin is again cloud-covered. The Bomber Command report claiming a concentrated attack on skymarkers is not confirmed by the local report. The heaviest bombing is in the southern and south-eastern districts but many bombs also fell to the east of the city. Mosquitos are also active with eight bombing Magdeburg, six hitting Dusseldorf (four on the city and two on the Rheinmetall armaments factory), five attacking Leipzig and three bombing Leverkusen (two hitting the city and one bombing the I.G. Garben chemical plant.

U.S.S.R.: Korosten and Chernyakhov northwest of Kiev fall the Soviets as does Skvira to the southwest, in a massive Ukrainian breakthrough.

Destroyers HMCS Haida, Huron and Iroquois arrived Kola Inlet with Convoy JW-55B.

ITALY: In the U.S. Fifth Army's British X Corps area, No. 9 Commando makes a seaborne raid just north of the Garigliano River mouth to secure information for future operations. In the U.S. II Corps area, combat patrols of the 36th Infantry Division enter St. Vittore but are forced out. In the U.S. VI Corps sector south of the Atina road, French forces seize three hills on the eastern end of Mt. Monna Casale and dig in.

USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-36 Apaches attack the railway station at Ferentino, harbour and railroad yard at Civitavecchia, and truck park near Aquino. P-40s attack a railway station at Anagni..

USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-26 Marauders attack the marshalling yard (M/Y) and bridge at Certaldo, the marshalling yards at Poggibonsi and the viaduct at Bucine, and a bridge in the north-western part of Orvieto; 76 B-17 Flying Fortresses hit the M/Y at Ferrara and 28 B-17s attack the M/Y at Rimini.

During the night of 29/30 December, six RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bomb the marshalling yard at Voghera while a seventh aircraft hits the railroad bridge at Piacenza.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: In the Adriatic Sea on the north side of the Peljesac Peninsula in Yugoslavia, USAAF P-40s damage a vessel. French Submarine FS Protee was disarmed at Alexandria, Egypt and interned by the British on June 22, 1940. The ship rejoined the Allied fleet and was re-armed on May 30, 1943. Today she is sunk by German aircraft while on patrol between Toulon and Marseilles.

ALGERIA: Allied Force Headquarters informs U.S. Seventh Army planners of the general objectives of Operation ANVIL, the projected invasion of southern France.

CHINA: Four USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s on armed reconnaissance strafe the railroad station, yards, and town area at Hsipaw, hit numerous freight cars between Hsipaw and Mansam Falls, and attack railroad yards at Hopong. Three B-25 Mitchells on a shipping sweep along the Yangtze River sink an army cargo ship and a merchant cargo ship and damage an army cargo ship southwest of Wuhu.

BURMA: Continuing their attack to clear the Tarung River line, the Chinese 38th Division eliminates another Japanese strongpoint and forces the Japanese to break into small groups.

NEW GUINEA: Task Force MICHAELMAS issues formal orders for the invasion of Saidor, Northeast New Guinea. D-Day is tentatively set for 2 January.

In Northeast New Guinea, USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25 Mitchells hit Madang; B-24 Liberators bomb bivouac and communications targets near Sio, and other B-24 Liberators fly a light attack against Manokwari, hitting the town and shipping.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Cape Gloucester: Three battalions of the 1st US Marine Division today made a strategic breakthrough in the South-west Pacific by taking an important airfield at Cape Gloucester, on the western coast of New Britain, four days after landing in force.

Early today Japanese Zeros began strafing the wrecked airfield which had been theirs only a few hours earlier. Once operational, the airfield will give the Allies air control of the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits between New Guinea and New Britain. Possession of these are essential to any further advance by MacArthur's forces along New Guinea's north coast. At the same time control of the straits severs one of the main supply routes to Japan's increasingly isolated South-west Pacific HQ at Rabaul, in New Britain.

The Cape airfield was taken after a flanking action that began four days ago when the 1st Marines, Guadalcanal veterans who have been recharged by a year in Australia, waded through the surf on the Cape's south and north coasts. Japanese resistance was non-existent in the uncharted and treacherous waist-deep bogs behind the southern beach-head. Once on the airfield road the 1st encountered mortar, machine-gun and rifle fire from 12 bunkers at a place immediately christened Hell's Point as tanks obliterated the concrete and bamboo defences at point-blank range, killing 266 Japanese.

The 5th Marine Regiment arrives to reinforce the beachhead and make a wide sweep inland toward the airfield to block a Japanese withdrawal. The Japanese makes another unsuccessful counterattack on the Arawe beachhead.

On New Britain Islands, over 120 USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells, and B-26 Marauders attack positions at Cape Gloucester as the U.S. Marines take the airfield.

PACIFIC OCEAN: In the Philippine Sea, USS Silversides (SS-236) sinks three Japanese ships and damages a fourth off Palau.

U.S.A.: According to the Wyoming State Archives, quotas of bicycles for adults cut in half on this day in 1943, with Wyoming allotted 40. (Patrick Holscher)

Escort carrier USS Makassar Strait laid down.

Minesweeper USS Eager laid down.

Frigates USS Key West and New Bedford launched.

Destroyer escorts USS Riley and Martin H Ray launched.

Escort carrier USS Ommaney Bay launched.

Destroyer escort USS Naifeh laid down.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-530 was forced to return to base after being rammed by the tanker Esso Buffalo.

British General Henry Maitland Wilson, Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean, is promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.

WESTERN EUROPE: Weather causes the recall of over 100 USAAF Ninth Air Force bombers except for seven which bomb the Saint-Vith, Belgium, communications centre and the Keuchingen, Germany road bridge. The XIX Tactical Air Command flies armed reconnaissance over Belgium and Germany and supports the U.S. III, VIII, and XII Corps in the Neufchateau-Bastogne-Arlon areas of Belgium. .

BELGIUM: After yesterday's meeting at Hasselt Montgomery believed that Eisenhower had come to see his - Montgomery's - point of view with respect to command and strategy. He writes a letter to Eisenhower that if not insubordinate, was at least insolent and arrogant. Because of Eisenhower's failure to designate an overall commander for a principal Allied thrust north of the Ardennes, he inferred, they had already had "one very definite failure," so that the time had come for Eisenhower "to be very firm on the subject . . . no loosely worded statement" would do. He proceeded even to write Eisenhower's directive for him: "From now onwards full operational direction, control, and co-ordination . . . is vested in the C. in C. 21 Army Group, subject to such instructions as may be issued by the Supreme Commander from time to time." he tells Eisenhower if his concepts are not followed he is certain that, "we shall fail again."

This is too much for Ike and he decides to put the matter to the Combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington; either himself or Montgomery. Freddie de Guingand hears of Ike's intention and asks Bedell Smith, Ike's chief of staff, to delay the transmission of the message to the Combined Chiefs until he can come to Ike's headquarters at Versailles. De Guingand is well thought of at Supreme Headquarters and so Smith agrees to the delay. (Jay Stone)

A German A4 (V2) rocket impacts Antwerp at 1625 hours, crashing behind the post office in the Groenstraat; 39 people are killed, 108 badly wounded and 58 houses destroyed.

In the U.S. First Army area, the V Corps front is quiet, with both sides on the defensive. The XVIII Corps (Airborne) zone is also virtually static. The VII Corps mops up infiltrators and patrols. The 83d Infantry Division attacks toward Rochefort with the 329th Infantry Regiment, making slow progress.

In the U.S. Third Army area, the VIII Corps prepares for a drive on Houffalize. The 11th Armored Division moves to the vicinity of Neufchateau. In the III Corps area, Combat Command A of the 4th Armored Division opens the Anon- Bastogne highway. The 35th Infantry Division is clearing the Villers-laBonne-Eau-Lutrebois region; advance elements make contact with the 101st Airborne Division forces at Marvie, southeast of Bastogne.

LUXEMBOURG: The Luxembourg American Cemetery is established at Hamm. This is the final resting place for 5,076 Americans killed in the Battle of the Bulge. "

Among those to be buried there is First Lieutenant Francis Canham who was killed in action while directing fires of the 321st Glider Field Artillery on elements of the 2nd Panzer Division. He remains there today. (Jay Stone)

The 26th Infantry Division continues toward Wiltz against increasing resistance.

During USAAF Eighth Air Force's Mission 769, 13 aircraft bomb targets of opportunity at Wiltz and one hits Viandan.

NETHERLANDS: During the day, RAF Bomber Command dispatches 16 Lancasters to attack the E-boat pens at Rotterdam; all bomb the target scoring several hits.

GERMANY: RCAF Flight Lt. Dick Audet destroys five German planes in ten minutes. (Patrick Holscher)

The USAAF Eighth Air Force flies Mission 769: 827 bombers and 724 fighters hit communications targets in western Germany; four bombers and three fighters are lost. The targets are (numbers in parenthesis indicate number of aircraft bombing and number lost, e.g., 97-1):

- Communications centres: Lunebach (35-0), Stadtkyell (32-0), Zulpich (31-0), Wittlich (26-0), Feusdorf (19-0), and Prum (5-1).

- Marshalling yards: Bingen (146-1), Frankfurt-am-Main (137-0), Aschaffenburg (68-1), Gerolstein (26-0) and Mosel M/Y at Koblenz (13-0).

- Railroad bridges: Bullay (73-0), Neuweid (54-0) and Ludendorf at Remagen (31-0).

USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators bomb four marshalling yards (M/Y): 44 bomb the M/Y at Landshut, 28 at Rosenheim, 25 at Passau and 24 bomb the Main M/Y at Salzburg while 14 P-38 Lightnings bomb road a bridge south of Rosenheim.

During the day, RAF Bomber Command sends two separate forces to bomb marshalling yards in Koblenz, one of the main centres serving the Ardennes battlefront. One hundred ninety aircraft, 162 Halifaxes, 22 Lancasters and eight Mosquitos, are sent to bomb the Mosel M/Y near the main city; 180 bomb the target. Eighty five Lancasters are sent to hit the LÃ¼tzel yards north of the city; 82 bomb the target. No aircraft are lost from either operation. At least part of the bombing of each raid hit the railway areas. The Lutzel railway bridge at Koblenz is out of action for the rest of the war and the cranes of the Mosel Harbour are also put out of action.

During the night of 29/30 December, RAF Bomber Command sends 346 aircraft, 324 Lancasters and 22 Mosquitos, to bomb the Buer synthetic oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen; 323 bomb the target with the loss of four Lancasters. The raid takes place in difficult conditions. There is thick cloud over the target but Oboe skymarkers are accurately placed and the refinery is badly hit. The local report says that 300 high-explosive bombs fell within the oil-plant area. There are two large and ten small fires and much damage to piping and storage tanks. In a second raid, 197 aircraft, 159 Halifaxes, 24 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos, are sent to bomb the marshalling yards at Troisdorf; 176 bomb but most of the attack misses the target. In a third mission, nine Canadian bombers lay mines in the Elbe River.

Canadian Flight Lieutenant (USAAF Captain) Richard "Dick" Audet of RCAF No. 411 (Fighter) Squadron based at Heesch, the Netherlands, shoots down two Bf-109's and three Fw-190 in a single mission in the Rheine area. Even more amazing is his canopy came off halfway through the attacks. He is flying a Vickers Supermarine Spitfire LF MK.IXe, RAF serial number RR201. He is the only Spitfire pilot ever to score five victories in one sortie.

U-3518 commissioned

U-2360 launched.

AUSTRIA: Seventy USAAF Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers bomb the West marshalling yard at Innsbruck; nine other aircraft bomb targets of opportunity.

HUNGARY: Russian emissaries sent to the garrison in Budapest to negotiate surrender terms are killed by German troops and fighting breaks out. Soviet tanks meanwhile, roll into Budapest.

YUGOSLAVIA: Twenty five RAF bombers of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group drop supplies to partisans with the loss of one bomber.

U.S.S.R.: Polar Fleet and White Sea Flotilla: ASW trawler MS "T-883"/No. 37 (ex-RT-45 "Dvina") - is sunk by U-995, SW to cape Svatoi Nos while with convoy KB-37. (Sergey Anisimov and Dave Shirlaw)(69)

NORWAY: During the night of 29/30 December, 11 RAF Bomber Command Mosquitos lay mines in the Oslo Fjord.

ITALY: USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium bombers bomb the Rovereto bridge and Lavis viaduct, attack several bridges in northeastern Italy destroying the centre span of the bridge at Pordenone, and severely damage the bridge at Motta di Livenza. Fighter-bombers concentrate on communications targets in the extreme western end of the battle area, with excellent results on bridges in the Massa Lombarda area and destroy numerous vehicles and several locomotives. During the night of 29/30 December, USAAF Twelfth Air Force A-20 Havocs hit targets of opportunity at numerous northern Italian locations, including Ghedi Airfield, and a train south of Mantua.

USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators attack various targets. The targets are (numbers in parenthesis indicate number of aircraft bombing and number lost, e.g., 97-1)::

- Marshalling yards: Porto Nouvo at Verona (47-1) and Porto Vescova at Verona (43-2).

GREECE: A regency is announced for Greece. Prime Minister Papandreaou will resign when a regent is chosen.

SOMALIA: Mogadishu. Capt Simmon Latutin (b.1916), Somerset Light Infantry, saved two comrades, and tried in vain to save a boy, from a blazing and exploding rocket store. He died of burns next day. (George Cross)

CHINA: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-51 Mustangs and P-40s on armed reconnaissance hit various targets of opportunity at Shanhsien and Hei-Shih Kuan and east of Tsingsinghsien.

JAPAN: In the Kurile Islands, three USAAF Eleventh Air Force B-25 Mitchells on a fighter decoy mission abort due to weather; two of them are missing on the return flight. Three B-24 Liberators are dispatched to bomb Kashiwabara on Paramushiru Island and Kataoka on Shimushu Island. Two are forced to return to Shemya Island, Aleutian Islands, when their instruments freeze; the third B-24 bombs Katoaka.

VOLCANO ISLANDS: Twenty six USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberators, based on Guam, bomb Iwo Jima which is bombed again for a 6-hour period during the night of 29/30 December, by nine B-24 Liberators, flying at varying intervals.

BURMA: The Northern Combat Area Command and British Fourteenth Army fronts are linked as patrols of the British 36th Division establish contact with the Indian 19th Division. On the Arakan front, the Indian XV Corps now holds Rathedaung and Kudaung Island.

Nine USAAF Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells bomb troops and supplies at Panma while 15 P-47 Thunderbolts hit the supply area at Twinnge and troop concentration at Wetwun. Four B-25 Mitchells continue armed night reconnaissance over communications facilities.

USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-51 Mustangs and P-40s on armed reconnaissance attack various targets of opportunity east of Man Pong and north of Mongyu.

FRENCH INDOCHINA: Four USAAF Fourteenth Air Force B-25 Mitchells attack targets of opportunity from Dong Hoa to Lang Son while P-51 Mustangs and P-40s on armed reconnaissance attack Gia Lam Airfield.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS: In the U.S. Eighth Army's X Corps area on Leyte, the 1st Cavalry Division reaches the west coast and takes Villaba, north of Tibur. The 32d Infantry Division gains its west coast objectives to the north of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 127th Infantry Regiment taking the heights commanding Antipolo Point and the 128th Infantry Regiment reaching the high ground overlooking Tabango and Campopo Bays. Troops of the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, are eliminating small Japanese groups along the coast. In the XXIV Corps area, the 3d Battalion, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division, after advancing 650 yards (594 meters) along the road to Palompon, is pinned down by the Japanese. The Provisional Mountain Force gets into position for a drive east along the Palompon road.

USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-24 Liberators bomb Sasa Airfield on Mindanao Island. FEAF aircraft fly small strikes against a wide range of targets in the central Philippine Islands and southern Luzon Island.

EAST INDIES: USAAF Far East Air Forces (FEAF) B-25 Mitchells and fighter-bombers hit Namlea on Boeroe (Buroe) Island. Fighter-bombers hit northeastern Celebes Island airfields while B-24 Liberators bomb Limboeng on Celebes Island. FEAF aircraft fly small strikes against a wide range of targets in northern Borneo and on Timor Island.

NEW GUINEA: The Australian Piper Force (two battalions of the 2/11th Battalion, 19th Brigade, 6th Division) occupies Musinau, Northeast New Guinea. Musinau is located about 42 miles (68 kilometres) southeast of Aitape.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: On Bougainville, a company of the Australian 15th Battalion, 29th Brigade, 3rd Division, lands south of the Tavera River and the log crossing on the Mendai Track-Peters' Post and occupy it. Meanwhile, a company of the 47th Battalion, 29th Brigade, advances up the Jaba River and establishes a base about halfway to the junction with the Pagana River. The Australians destroy a Japanese pocket that has been holding up their advance along the Jaba River.

Destroyers USS Rowan and Vesole launched.

Minesweeper USS Murrelet launched.

Minesweeper USS Fixity commissioned.

Submarine USS Quillback commissioned.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: SS Arthur Sewall was travelling in the two column convoy TBC-21 as the fourth ship in the port column (listed as station #18), when the convoy was attacked by U-772 seven miles SE of Portland Bill Lighthouse. The two Liberty ships Arthur Sewall and Black Hawk were torpedoed and damaged beyond repair. The Arthur Sewall was struck by one torpedo on the port side in the engine room. The torpedo entered the machinery space and travelled over ten feet before exploding. The blast demolished the engines and the port boilers and created a hole 20 feet long. Five men were burned badly and one officer was killed on watch below. The keel remained as the only structural member holding the ship together. The vessel settled by the stern four feet and remained on even keel. The crew of eight officers, 32 men and 29 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) did not abandon ship. One injured fireman died next day. The tug Pilot took the vessel in tow and she arrived at Weymouth nine hours later, where she was declared a total loss. After the war she was towed to Portland, where she was temporarily repaired before she was towed to Bremerhaven. She was loaded with obsolete chemical ammunition, towed to sea and was scuttled in the North Sea on 26 Oct 1946. SS Black Hawk was travelling in the two-column convoy TBC-21 as the last ship in the starboard column, when the convoy was attacked by U-772 seven miles SE of Portland Bill Lighthouse. The Black Hawk was struck by one torpedo two minutes after the Arthur Sewall was hit 500 yards off the bow. The torpedo struck on the port side at the #5 hatch, set off the after magazine, completely destroyed the after section of the ship and shot flames and smoke 150 feet into the air. The engines were immediately secured as the ship sank by the stern. A crack appeared at the #3 hatch and water entered #3 and #4 holds and the engine room until only the forward two compartments kept the ship afloat. 30 minutes after the attack, the seven officers, 34 men and 27 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) and one Army security officer began to abandon ship in four boats and two rafts. The men were picked up by corvette HMS Dahlia and landed at Brixham at 2030. Four men were injured and the cook died ashore in a hospital. A salvage crew later boarded the vessel to prepare her to be towed to Warboro Bay, where she was beached an declared a total loss.

UNITED KINGDOM: Robert Blaine is hanged at Wandsworth prison in London for murder.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Minesweeper USS Minivet mined and sunk Tsushima Straits. 31 crewmembers died.

CANADA: The Department of National Defence releases World War II casualty statistics: 41,371 Canadians in service killed, 43,178 wounded, 10,844 made prisoners of war, 32 missing in action.